Itron Inspire 2026 Event Highlights Utility Challenges Solutions

LIBERTY LAKE, Wash., Sept. 17, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Itron, Inc., the infrastructure provider for modern energy and water management, has announced the lineup for its premier customer-focused event, Itron Inspire 2026. The event, set to take place in Houston, Texas, from October 16 to 21, 2026, will host over 1,000 leaders from electric, water, natural gas, and smart city organizations. CenterPoint Energy will serve as the host utility for the conference.

The Knowledge Conference, the main event, will run from October 18 to 20. Keynote presentations, breakout sessions, and networking events will provide attendees with practical approaches to address the challenges facing energy and water delivery. Marina Donovan, vice president of global marketing, ESG, and public affairs at Itron, highlighted the importance of collaboration and shared knowledge in tackling these challenges. She noted, "Every utility is navigating its own set of competing priorities, and these challenges can’t be solved by technology alone. Each year at Itron Inspire, the industry comes together to share what’s working, learn from one another, and discuss how utilities can continue to meet the needs of the communities they serve."

Opening General Session on Monday, October 19, will feature Ed De Varona, senior vice president of CenterPoint Energy’s electric business, discussing the utility's approach to growth, innovation, and grid resiliency. Tom Deitrich, president and CEO of Itron, will highlight the role of data, edge intelligence, and AI in turning operational insights into actionable outcomes. He will be joined by Mike Delaney, vice president of strategy and innovation at Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), for a conversation on applying intelligence at the edge to make home electrification easier, reduce operational and maintenance costs, and strengthen the utility’s ability to detect and predict grid conditions.

The Tuesday General Session will focus on the impact of extreme weather on utilities. Sunny Wescott, Federal Emergency Response Chief Meteorologist and Executive Director for the Geospatial Intelligence Information Sharing and Analysis Center, will discuss how extreme weather is reshaping risk for utilities across the nation.

The event will also feature a Women Who Inspire session, returning in a new format. Katrina Polk, vice president of product management at Itron, will moderate a discussion with Elvimar Rivas, senior analyst at Con Edison; Shelley Parker, vice president at Alectra Utilities; and Latisha Hill, vice president of community affairs and chief customer officer at Avista. The panelists will share insights from their personal and professional journeys, discussing topics such as navigating industry change, embracing innovation, and mentorship.

More than 75 customer- and partner-led breakout sessions will take place throughout the conference. These sessions are organized across five tracks: Applications, Outcomes and Services; Data Management; Mobile and Measurement Solutions; Multi-Purpose Network Solutions; and Resiliency Solutions. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore how organizations are using intelligence and data-driven strategies to modernize existing infrastructure, respond faster to disruptions, manage rising demand, and improve outcomes for customers and communities.

In addition to the main event, Itron Inspire 2026 will feature pre-conference product training opportunities from October 16 to 18. These hands-on, expert-led trainings will allow utilities to maximize their professional development. The training sessions cover products such as OpenWay® Collection Manager, Temetra®, and MV-90™ xi, with options ranging from one-day introductory courses to three-day certified training sessions.